Putting Google Play on your Amazon Fire Tablet

A quick and risk-free method for installing the Google Play store on Amazon's Fire tablets. The guide covers the Fire 7, the Fire HD 8, and the Fire HD 10.

Amazon started dropping prices on Fire tablets last week, but on Black Friday all Fire tablets will be on sale. This year’s sale will mirror last year’s sale, so expect to see the Fire 7 Tablet going for $30 and the Fire HD 8 going for $50. The Fire HD 10 has been on sale for since last week and you can buy the 32GB version for $99.

The NOOK 10.1″ is the best tablet deal this year, but if you are determined to get an Amazon Fire, the first thing you are going to want to do is to install the Google Play Store. Amazon’s App Store has a limited selection of apps and apps that use Google services are not available. If you are looking to use Chrome, Hangouts, Drive (and any app that uses Drive) or thousands of other apps, you will need to have access to the Google Play Store and Google services.

Installing the Google Play Store is fairly easy. Even if you’ve never hacked or modded a device, you will be able to do this if you are patient and follow the steps. There is no threat to bricking your device. There are other hacks you can use, but I will not be covering those here. If you are interested in exploring those options start with the official forum at XDA Developers.

Verify your version of Fire OS

The last several years of Fire tablets run version 5.xx. Of the Fire tablets currently for sale, Fire 7 and Fire HD 10 run 5.xx. Older Fire tablets, including the HDX line (which are still impressive after 5 years, despite Fire OS) run version 4.xx. The Fire HD 8 runs Fire OS 6.xx and the older models of the Fire HD 8 run Fire 5.xx.

You can NOT install Google Play Store on version 4.xx with the following method. This method works for version 5.xx and 6.xx, though different files are needed for 6.xx.

If you have purchased a Fire tablet made in the past 4 years, it will be running version 5.xx EXCEPT for the new Fire HD 8, which runs Fire OS 6.xx.

Follow these steps to verify your version if you are unsure:

Step 1: Swipe down the top of your home screen. Tap on the gear icon (circled in image). This opens your Settings panel.

Step 3: Tap on System Updates (circled in image). This will show you your current OS version.

Step 4: Verify your version (circled in image). The version in the image is 5.xx

Installing Google Play on Fire OS 5.xx

This method is for the Fire 7, the HD Fire 10 and the previous version of the Fire HD 8:

Step 1: Enable from Unknown Sources

1: Go to Settings.

2: Tap Security & Privacy.

3: Enable App from Unkown Sources.

Step 2: Download and Install Google Play APKs

It is important to install these IN ORDER. You will be given a notification from the Silk browser once each file has downloaded and it will ask if you want to open it. Open it and let it install, and then move on the next file until you have installed all four files.

Step 3: Restart your Fire Tablet

Restart your tablet. When you power it back on, you will have access to Google Play Store. The Google Play Store and the Google Play Services files will update on their own, you will not need to manually update or maintain this installation. Enjoy!

Installing Google Play on Fire OS 6.xx

Step 1: Enable Apps from Unknown Sources

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Turn on App from Unknown Sources. Refer to the above-section for Fire Os 5.xx. with images if you are unsure how to do this.

Step 2: Download and Install Google Play APKs

It is important to install these IN ORDER. You will be given a notification from the Silk browser once each file has downloaded and it will ask if you want to open it. Open it and let it install, and then move on the next file until you have installed all four files.

Step 3: Restart your Fire Tablet

Restart your tablet. When you power it back on, you will have access to Google Play Store. The Google Play Store and the Google Play Services files will update on their own, you will not need to manually update or maintain this installation. Enjoy!

Zach Trimble

Zach is the publisher and editor of Screen Dandy. He writes for readers and writers, with an emphasis on digital storytelling and the devices and software used to consume and create those stories.